The Townsville Blackhawks are one week closer to sewing up the Intrust Super Cup minor premiership in their debut season following a dominant 52-12 Round 22 win over the Tweed Heads Seagulls at Jack Manski Oval on Saturday.

The nine-tries-to-two victory over the 10th-placed Tweed side and the Hunters’ impressive away win over the third-placed Ipswich Jets, means Townsville and PNG are both five points clear of the chasing pack on the competition ladder. The teams are locked on 37 points but the Blackhawks occupy top spot thanks to a far superior for-and-against record.

If the Blackhawks win their three remaining matches, the Hunters won’t bridge the for-and-against gap and a successful first season will be all but complete save for that much sought-after premiership.

Saturday’s big win in front of a healthy Townsville crowd was punctuated by a hat-trick from North Queensland Toyota Cowboys-contracted centre Kyle Feldt whose treble and six goals gave him a personal points tally of 24. Tries to fellow Cowboys-aligned Blackhawks Zac Santo and Kelepi Tanginoa assured it was a good day out for those attached to the National Rugby League club, while Samsen O’Neill, younger brother of Cowboys centre/winger Justin, also touched down for the Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks head west next weekend when they host the third-placed Ipswich Jets in Charters Towers for Country Round.

The Northern Pride have given their chances of defending the 2014 Intrust Super Cup title an almighty boost following an impressive, determined 26-22 victory over fellow Cowboys feeder club the Cutters in Mackay.

The victory moves the sixth-placed Pride (12 wins, eight losses) to 28 points on the ladder, a full two wins clear of the seventh-placed Cutters (10 wins, 10 losses), who will now need to win their remaining three regular season games and have other results go their way to be a chance of playing post-season football.

Cowboys-contracted winger Javid Bowen scored a double and kicked three goals for the victors, who were missing regular fullback Hezron Murgha through suspension.

In next weekend’s country round, the Cutters head to Dalby for a clash with Norths Devils while the Pride take on the eighth-placed Dolphins in Innisfail.